He was eventually able to communicate directly with the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X's oratory skills also developed through his participation in a prison debate team.
Spiritually and personally transformed, Malcolm X was released on parole, and moved to Detroit to live with his brother who, like many of their other siblings, had converted to Islam. Malcolm X soon rose through the ranks of the Nation of Islam, became its first national minister, and grew in political clout. As his social and political notoriety grew, rivals within the Nation of Islam plotted against him, sent death threats, and eventually exiled Malcolm X from the Nation. Undeterred, Malcolm X went on to found his own spiritual-political society and traveled abroad on spiritual and political pilgrimages. His encounters with Middle Eastern and African manifestations of the Muslim faith had a powerful impact on Malcolm X, who refined his personal and political philosophies into a more temperate vision.
The Autobiography...
In accordance with the political philosophies of Marcus Garvey, who had inspired Malcolm X's father, the Nation of Islam sprouted up as an assertion of black independence from an oppressive and racist white dominant culture. However, the autobiography also illustrates the darker side of political activism: the infighting and the egotism that led directly to the murder of Malcolm X Although violent in its expression at times, the Nation of Islam carried a message of survival and determination that continues to influence race relations in the United States. The Autobiography of Malcolm X is also a remarkable story of personal transformation and widespread social change. A tale of empowerment, the story of Malcolm X's life offers hope and inspiration to all subjugated peoples.
Works Cited
Malcolm X (1964). The Autobiography of Malcolm X Assisted by Alex Haley. New York: Grove Press.
